Maybe I'm missing something

[ksmith]

Why would someone who apparently is not actively pursuing/trying to build a writing career want to serve as an officer in a writers' organization?

Comments

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Possibly to help support people who are working on said career?

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

(This is the abstract guess, not a sneaky attempt at divining the motives of any particular individual. And also not a claim as to whether this would be a good thing or not.)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know.

Are other organizations, like the one to which the artists belong--acronym slipped out of my head--open to the same types of assistance?

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I haven't a clue.

[juliabk.livejournal.com]

AFSA. I think.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Happens all the time in RWA. At the local chapter level there are many wannabes who proclaim themselves interested in a writing career, but in the end stay for the social benefits of the organization. They're often effective volunteers and officers.

Similarly at the national level, RWA officers and board members may not have extensive writing credentials--some have never sold anything while others have stalled careers and haven't sold in years.

Because the president is the public face of RWA, a while back they amended their bylaws so that you can't be president unless you have at least 5 published novels. But there's no similar requirement on other officers or board members.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Rereading my post I realize I should have said that there are indeed successful authors who serve as RWA officers and board members. But a successful writing career isn't a litmus test for who gets elected to serve.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Do you think it helps to have experienced the ups and downs of a writing career firsthand, and to have dealt with the business end of things?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It depends on the person and the position. In some cases these individuals bring enthusiasm, organizational skills and the willingness to donate large chunks of their time, and they do a good job. I've watched over the years as RWA awards for outstanding service are generally given to women who are not (at the time of their service) combining an active writing career with their efforts.

But there are drawbacks. Someone who isn't an active writer has little credibility outside the organization when it comes to dealing with the industry and the media. They also have credibility issues within the organization, particularly when it comes to thorny issues.

Going back to RWA again, there's a sense that you have to be a working writer to understand what issues are important to a working writer, and that enthusiasm and good intentions aren't enough to make up that difference.

[juliabk.livejournal.com]

Happens all the time in RWA. At the local chapter level there are many wannabes who proclaim themselves interested in a writing career, but in the end stay for the social benefits of the organization. They're often effective volunteers and officers.


[Disclaimer: I'm not a member of SFWA, though I have done volunteer work for them (usually at WorldCon helping out in the suite) and work as an Auxiliary member of the SFWA Musketeers (fun with swords to raise money for the SFWA Emergency Medical Fund).]

I think you've hit a good point here. Publishing credits don't don't equate to effective leadership skills (and even *I* know that some of the well-known SFWA folks have made or would make *horrible* organization officers). That said, I don't know that someone with *NO* involvement in the industry would be a good choice for President. But even minimal involvement, if the ability and the commitment are there could make for a good choice *IF* they also have either sound personal knowledge of the problems writers face *OR* are ready, willing and able to listen to those who DO have the knowledge and learn from them.

I've seen the names of a couple of the folks running for President. I've met one in person and he seemed like a nice fella (head and shoulders above a past-president I have met). Doubt that that's a good recommendation for the office. The other individual I 'know' only from what I've occasionally read on his blog. He strikes me as a sound thinker and a reasonable man. But again, is that all that's required?

I see it quite often at work. Someone who's *damn* good in a particular field can't necessarily either administer their department or teach worth a damn.

No matter how the election goes, I hope whoever gets the office has the best interest of all the members at heart *AND* has the necessary skill to do the job.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends what one is looking for in an officer, esp a president. Administrator, or figurehead/name/more than an administrator.

[janni.livejournal.com]

Because they have the time, and those writing more actively don't.

Also because maybe now that they do have the time, they want to do some paying forward to the folks who helped them out when they did have an active writing career.

Also, probably because of the above, because they said "yes" to the nice elections committee when they were getting desperate because everyone else had said "no." Having said "no" to the nice elections committee myself a couple times, I know that filling those slots isn't easy. It's not like they don't ask more actively working writers to take a turn.

All of which are actually fairly altruistic reasons. I don't think many people offer to step up to the plate out of self-interest; it's a huge commitment, and it's not always easy to find those willing to take it on.

[naomikritzer]

Which candidate is this? I haven't been reading the election newsgroup much because the interface makes me too crazy.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Andrew Burt

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Ritual disclaimer--I lost the Veep election to Andrew in 2003, although given how the rest of the year went, that turned out to be a blessing.

[sleary.livejournal.com]

My snarky-but-serious answer: because they enjoy getting to sit at the grownups' table (such as it is).

[hoosier-red.livejournal.com]

Allow me to quote "Shakespeare in Love":

"I don't know -- it's a mystery."

[daveamongus.livejournal.com]

I find the whole exercise... fascinating.

And your question in particular perplexing. (not that you asked it, of course, but that it needed to be asked.)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Have you read Soul Music?

[daveamongus.livejournal.com]

Several times, though you might have to lead me by the nose a bit.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Does a musician run the Musician's Guild?

[daveamongus.livejournal.com]

Damnit, of course.

Although I think the membership requirements for the guild are ... amusing in the context of the membership discussion in SFWA.